Johnny Orlando Talks About His Favorite Song Off It’s Never Really Over and SO Much More
There's no doubt that Johnny Orlando is one of the biggest young stars on the planet right now, and fans around the world had their dreams answered when, at long last, he released his It's Never Really Over EP last month.
Containing six stunning songs, this is his first big release since last year's Teenage Fever EP. And if audience reaction is anything to go by, these new songs have absolutely been worth the wait.
As long-time fans of Johnny ourselves, we simply had to know more about how these songs were made, and why they're so meaningful to the burgeoning artist. Keep reading to find out more about the making of, Johnny's favorite track and more.
Sweety High: What was the recording process for It's Never Really Over, and how was it impacted by the pandemic?
Johnny Orlando: We were actually lucky because we recorded most of this EP before the COVID outbreak and quarantine happened. I first started recording this EP in summer 2019, so we had almost all of the songs fully finished before March. "Everybody Wants You" was the only song I made during the pandemic, and I actually recorded it in my bedroom. I had to learn how to use pro-tools and record myself for a variety of things while the studios were closed, so it was definitely a good learning experience!
(Photo credit: Norman Wong)
SH: Is there a theme or through-line that runs through the songs on the EP?
JO: All of these songs are a byproduct of my personal and artistic growth since I put out my last EP, Teenage Fever. I think it's very evident in both the lyrical content and just sonically overall. I used the time in-between EPs to really experiment with different styles and figure out what I wanted to do with my sound. I was also a lot more honest with my songwriting this time around, and allowed myself to be vulnerable in a way I haven't before.
SH: Where does the title It's Never Really Over come from, and what does it mean to you?
JO: When I was trying to pick a title for the EP, I really wanted it to be something that represented the project as a whole, and I think It's Never Really Over does that perfectly. The one thing I realized throughout this process is that you're never finished growing, evolving and learning as a person and an artist. It was a bit scary for me to come to that realization as I am approaching the end of high school and more or less saying goodbye to my childhood innocence, but the outcome of this project is me realizing that it's just how life works.
SH: Do you have a favorite song on the EP?
JO: I think "Adelaide" is my favorite track right now. It was one of the first songs I wrote for the project back in 2019, so I've been sitting on it for a while just waiting to put it out. I think it's just a really unique song, and was kind of a step outside of my comfort zone at the time. It really set the tone for the rest of the EP for me.
SH: How do the songs on this EP feel different from what you've released in the past? What new sides of yourself were you excited to explore with these songs?
JO: They honestly feel entirely different from anything I put out previously. I feel like they are 100 times more honest, and just more me. I took a lot of creative control on this project in a way that I wasn't really comfortable doing previously. I'm a lot more confident artistically now, and I think that is visible across all of the tracks.
SH: Are there any artists that are particularly inspiring you during these unusual times?
JO: If there is one silver lining in all of this craziness, it's music. I feel like so many artists have put out really cool and unique music throughout this time period. I think the downtime has allowed everyone to explore their own creativity a little bit, so honestly, all of that is really inspiring to me.
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
JO: Go listen to It's Never Really Over!
It's Never Really Over was one of our favorite music releases of October. Click HERE to find out what other music we loved that week.